On December 9th, Madonna Taylor, our long-time neighbor and friend on Hobart, passed away after a brief illness. This sudden loss shocked and saddened all who knew her.

Madonna and her husband, Ed, frequently hosted the Harvard Heights Cookie Wrap party every December to benefit our local police and fire stations. Madonna was very active at her church and loved singing with Ed in the choir every Christmas and baking treats for everyone they knew. She was also very active in the community - especially on Hobart where she and Ed raised their four children.

The daughter of Amos and Ann (Vanyo) Gust, she was born in Grand Forks, ND and raised on a farm near Tabor, MN. She attended grade school at a one room school house, and graduated in 1956 from Sacred Heart High School in East Grand Forks, MN. She married Arnett (Ed) Taylor on February 13, 1961 in Los Angeles, CA. She is survived by her husband; sons, Arnett Jr. (Jane) and John (Laura), and daughter Annette; grandchildren, Michael, Kevin and Elisabeth; brothers, Leonard, Kenneth, Daniel (Lois), Paul (Patricia), Gregory (Cynthia); sisters, Joanne Thompson, Pat (John) Corbid, Jeannie (Pete) Ripplinger, Kathy (Terry) Hecht, Marge Myrick, Carol (John) Bloxsum, and Diane Hadden. She was preceded in death by son Kevin, her parents, brothers Samuel, Michael and John.

Madonna will be remembered for her generosity to others in her neighborhood and her church community, her love of music, singing and dancing, and her cooking and baking talents.

About Us

Established in August of 2008 by writer, artist Dianne V. Lawrence, The Neighborhood News covers the events, people, history, politics and historic architecture of communities throughout the Mid-City and West Adams area in Los Angeles Council District 10.